Rotary pump



June 15, 1943, J. w. GURLEY ROTARY PUMP Fil ed Sept. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN W. GURLEY ATTORNEY June 15, 1943. J. w. GURLEY 2,321,810

' ROTARY PUMP I Filed Sept. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 65 52 JOHN W. GUR-LEY Ja e r, I v ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1943. J w, GURLEY ROTARY PUMP Filed Sept. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INIIVENTOR JOHN W. GURLEY ATTORNEY/ Patented June 15, U943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a a I 2 ,'321,81o I f' IARY John w.our1ey, Indianapolis, ind. Application September 8, 1941 Semantic-409,923 Y 12 Claims. (01. 191mm) This invention relates to: rotary pumps and more particularly to that type of pumpin which a. disk-like impeller is provided with one or more annular series of openings or vanes forming pock-.

ets which rotate between channels formed in the side walls ofthe work chamber to move the fluid from the inlet through said channels to the outlet.

a pump of a simple construction which will be highly eificient in operation.

A further object of the invention to pro vide such a pump which canbe manufactured,v

and maintained at low cost. 7 l v A further object of the'invention is to provide a three stage pump without materially increasing the size of the pump, the number of moving parts required or the cost of. construction and.

maintenance as compared vwiththe two stage A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of this type with means forautomatically priming the same. a

Other objects of the invention: may appear as the invention is described in detail. V

In the accompan'ying drawings Fig. l is a section taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig.2 is a section taken on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1, with the-annular ring removed to show the impeller in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a detail; elevation of the adjustable ring; Fig. 4 is ,a section taken through the adjustable ring on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of-a modified form of the pump; Fig. 6 is asectional view taken: concentrically through the pump of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 I is an elevation of the-inner side of one side wall ,In the preferred form of the invention, as

shown in Figs. 1. we, the pump comprises a cas-i ing 10 having side walls II and i2 and a peripheral wall 13,- here shown as integralwith. the side wall H and to the edge of which the side wall i2is secured, as by screws These walls One object of the invention is to provide such,

rigidlysecured to the innerlend of the. shaft l-8 for rotation in theworkchamber l5. ,This impeller is provided adjacent ,its' axis of rotation with an, innerjannularlseries of' pockets ,2], which, in the present instance,"are formed by circular holes extending through the impeller, and has at oradjacent to, its periphery an outer annular seriesof pockets 22, whichare prefer: ably formed. by spaced vanes 23. In the ,construction. shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the impeller is. of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the work; chamber and the outerlseries of pockets. 22 is divided. by a circumferential partition lfsoasut'o provide in effect two'outer series of pocketsthe'pockets of one series being preferably staggered with relation to the pockets of the other series, However, the pockets of this outer series may be of any suitable character and may, for example, extend entirely through" the peripheral portion of'tlie impeller, as shown in Fig. 9. ,The impeller is also provided between the; inner .andouter seriesof pockets with two.

annular series of vanes '25 projecting laterally from the respective sides. thereof. and the vanes of each seriesare' spaced apart tofform between them an intermediateseries' of'pockets '26. The

outer portions of the vanes 25 project laterally.

from the body of the impeller a greater distance than do the inner portions thereof and the lateral edges of the vanes and inner walls of the pockets are-curvdiinwardly. The intermediate vanes 2.'i v are spaced radially from the outer series of vanes 22 and the body of the impeller is provided between' the twoseries'of vanes with oppositely facing annular contact surfaces 21.

Annular members are arranged on each side of' the impeller tbiengagethe respective contact surfaces 21 of the impeller and to divide the work chamber 'into inner and outer channels. When these members are formed rigid with the side walls of the casing, as is customary in pumps form within thecasing a-circular work chamber l5 and the side wall l2 ispprovided with an axial inlet 16 with which a suction pipe may be connected, and the peripheral wa1lg|3 is.-;pro-

'vided with an outlet l'i with which a service pipe may be connected.

A shaft i8 is rotatably ofthis type, the members must conform to very exact dimensions in order tohave proper running contact witlrthe impeller when the side walls of the pump are secured .one to the other. This calls for precision'work which adds greatly to 'th'e cost of manufacturing the pump and also makes it difilcult'to'restore a proper running contact between the impeller and the annular-mam ber when the spacing between the members has beenincreased'by wear. In the construction illustrated one ofth'e annular members is made adjustable withrelation to the otherand means are provided for effecting this adjustment after the pump has been assembled, thereby enabling the proper running contact between the impeller and the annular members to be effected after the pump has been assembled and thus eliminating a.very large partof the precision work which isusually necessary and facilitating the maintenance of the proper running contact. As here shown, the side wall H of the casing has adjacent its periphery an annular member 28 extending into the chamber and here shown as an integral part of the wall H. Thismember has adjacent its inner edge a laterally extending projection or flange 29 arranged to have contact with the adjacent contact surface 27 of the impeller and to thereby divide the space between the impeller and the wall ll into an inner channel 30 and an outer channel 3|. Mounted in the work'chamber on that side of the impeller opposite the wall II is an annular'member or ring 32 which has snug peripheral contact with the peripheral wall l3 but is slidable thereon in an axial direction so that it may be moved toward and from the annular member2'8 on the other side of the impeller. In the present instance this annular member 32 is of substantial radial width and constitutes a major portion of the side wall of the work chamber, it being provided with a central opening 33 only slightly larger than the inner end of the inlet |6. Adjacent its peripheral'edge the member 32 is thickened, as shown at 34, to provide the same with a relativelylarge contact with the wall |3 and at the inner edge of this thickened portion it is provided with an annular flange or member 35 to engage the adjacent contact surface 21 of the impeller and to form between the outer portion of the ring and the impeller an outer channel 36 which is on nected with the other outer channel 3| by a transverse space 31 beyond the periphery of the impeller, so as toconstitute in effect a single outer channel. The space on the inner side of the thickened portion 34 of the ring 32 forms an inner channel which communicates with the inner channel 30 on the other side of the impeller 32. Preferably the wall is'provided with bosses 39 through which the screws extend and the opening through each bossis flared at its outer end to receive a suitable'packing 40, such as lead, this packing being in the form of a hollow frustum of a cone and of an initial axial length slightly greater than the flared portion of the opening so that it may be engaged by a locking nut 4| and pressed tightly into the enlarged portion of the opening.

Theouter channels 3| and 36 are connected with the inner channels by openings formed through the members 28 and 34, as shown at 42 in Figs. 2 and 4, and with the outlet I1. The discharge ends of the outer channels are connected with a discharge passage leading to the outlet IT, as shown at 43, and are preferably tapered. Just beyond the discharge passage the outer channels are closed by abutments which are preferably formed by increasing the width of the members 28 and 34, as shown at 44 in Fig.1, and providing the ring or annular member 32 with a projection 45 extending across the peripheral edge of the impeller and into a recess in the member 28. Thus the space between the members 28 and 32 at this point is of a width just sufiicient to permit the rotation of the impeller and the impeller will carry past the abutments' only such fluidas lies within the pockets and the remaining portion 'of the fluid in the outer channel will be diverted to the outlet.

In the operation of the pump the inner pockets 2| will draw the fluid through the inlet l6 and move the same through both inner channels at a substantial velocity.- The fluid'as it is advanced by the pockets 2| moves outwardly and enters the pockts 26 of the intermediate series which impart increased velocity thereto due to the fact that the intermediate series of pockets, being spaced from the axis of rotation a greater distance, rotate at a speed higher than the speed of the inner series of pockets. With this increased velocity the fluid is discharged through the passages 42 to the outer channel and by slightly tapering these passages the velocity of the fluid may be further increased. As the fluid enters the outer channels it is received in the outerseries of pockets and its velocity further increased due to the higher speed of rotation of the outer series of pockets. This high velocity is further increased as the fluid is discharged to the outlet through the tapered discharge passage 43. It will thus be apparent that the pump constitutes in eifect a three stage pump and operates at a high efliciency.

The pump is also provided with very simple means for automatically priming the same. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the discharge passage 43 enters the outlet at one side thereof and the inner end of the outlet at the other side thereof is partially closed by a projection 46 integral with the peripheral wall l3, this projection overhanging the projection or lug 45 on the ring 32. An opening 41 extends through the projections 46 and 45 so as toconnect the outlet with the outer series of pockets in the impeller. The discharge passage 43 is so arranged with relation to the opening 4T that the fluid passes at high velocityfrom the discharge passage to the outlet I1 beyond the opening 41,'fills the outlet and tends to create'an outward suction through the opening, thus preventing the flow of any appreciable quantity offluid from the outlet through the opening to the outer pockets of the impeller. Should the supply of fluid to the pump be exhausted or other wise interrupted while the impeller continues to operate, there will, of course, be no discharge of fluid through the discharge passage suflicient'to prevent the back flow of the fluid in the outlet, and the fluid in the outlet, and in the service line connected therewith, will flow by gravity through the opening 41 into the outer pocket and will be carried by the impeller through the outer channels to fill the latter. So long as the supply of fluid is interrupted the fluid which thus enters the channels will be circulated repeatedly through the channels to the outlet and back to the channels until such time as th supply of fluid is restored and, the channels then being full of fluid, will create the necessary suction to draw fluid through the inlet l6 and restore the operation of the pump. Any air which may enter the work chamber is discharged therefrom along with the water from the discharge passage 43 to the service line. Should there be any air 7 in the outlet at the time the priming operation is In Figs. 5 to 9 I have shown a modified form of the pump which comprises a casing having side walls 5|] and 5| and a peripheral wall 52 to form within the same a work chamber 53. The wall peller has an inner series of openings 60 arranged about its axis of rotation and constituting pockets, and also has at its/periphery a series of vanes 6| spaced apart to form an outer series of pockets.

In this instance the impeller has running contact with the peripheral wall 52 of the casing and the pockets of the outer series extend entirely through the impeller.

The wall 50 of the casin is provided with an inner channel 62 and an outer channel 63, these channels being formed by an inwardly extending member or rib 64 which, in the present instance, is integral with the walljll and which has contact with the adjacent side'of the impeller between the inner and outer series of pockets. Slidably mounted within the work chamber on that side of the impeller opposite the wall 50 is an annular member or ring 65 having a part 66 adapted to have engagement with the adjacent side of the That impeller between the two series of pockets. side of the member 65 adjacent the impeller is provided in the peripheral portion thereof with an annular recess 61 which constitutes an outer channel and that portion 'of the workchamber on the inner side of the member 65 constitutes the inner channel. The annular member 65 may be adjusted axially in any suitable manner, preferably by adjusting screws 68 in the manner above described. The inner channels 'are in open communication with the suction chamber and are connected with the outer channel by passages 69, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. The rib 64 and the part 66 of the ring 65 are provided with enlargements I and H which extend to the periphery of the work chamber and close the outer channels at points just beyond the outlet 56 and thus act as abutments to divert the fluid through the lateral outlet. The impeller is provided adjacent to the pockets 60 with laterally extending parts or vanes 12 to act on the fluid and impart a greater movement and greater velocity thereto. As shown in Fig. 9, there is a vane 12 for each opening or .pocket 60 and the vane extends part ,way around the pocket.

While I have shown and described two forms of my invention I wish to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to, a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pump comprising a casing provided with a chamber having in each side thereof inner and outer annular channels and a passage connecting said channels, an inlet leading to said inner channels, an outlet leading from said outer channels, an impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber and having inner and outer series of pockets communicating respectively with said inner and outer channels to draw fluid through said inlet and discharge the same through said outlet, and means carried by said impeller and operating in said inner channels to increase the velocity of said fluid as it passes from said inner channels to said outer channels.

2. A pump comprising a casing provided with a chamber having in each side thereof inner and outer annular channels and a passage connecting said channels, an inlet leading to said inner channels, an outlet leading from said outer channels, an impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber and having inner and outer series of pockets communicating respectively with said inner and outer channels to draw fiuid through said inlet and discharge the same through said outlet, and annular members carried by said impeller, extendinginto the respective inner chan-- nels radially beyond said inner pockets and having means for increasing the velocity at which the fluid is delivered from said inner channels to said outer channels. 7

3. A pump comprising a casing provided with a work chamber having an'inlet and an outlet, annular members in the respective sides of said chamber having opposed parts to receive between them an impeller and to provide said chamber on each side of said impeller with an inner channel communicating with said inlet and an outer channel communicating with said inner channel and with said outlet, and an impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a running fit between the opposed parts of said annular members, said impeller having an annular series of openings therethrough communicating with said inner channels, an annular series of pockets adjacent the periphery thereof communicating with the outer channels, and an intermediate annular series of pockets communicating with said inner channels between said series of openings and said opposed parts of said annular members.

4. A pump comprising a casing provided with a. work chamber having an inlet and an outlet, annular members in the respective sides of said chamber having opposed parts to receive between them an impeller and to provide said chamber on each'side of said impeller with an inner channel communicating with said inlet and an outer channel communicating with said inlet and an outer channel communicating with said inner channel and with said outlet, and an impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a running fit between the opposed parts of said annular members, said impeller having an annular series of openings therethrough communicating with said inner channels, an annular series of pockets adjacent the periphery thereof communicating with the outer channels, and also having parts arranged radially beyond said series of openings and extending laterally into said inner channels to impart increased velocity to the fluid movingthrough said inner channels.

5. A pum'p comprising a casing provided with a work chamber having an inlet and an outlet, annular members in the respective sides of said chamber, having opposed parts to receive between them an impeller and to provide said chamber on each side of said impeller with an inner channel communicating with said inlet and an outer channel communicating with said inner channel and with said outlet, and an impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a running fit between the opposed parts of said annular members, said impeller havingan annular series of openings therethrough communicating with 6. A pump comprising a casing'provided with a work chamber having an inlet and-an outlet, annular members in the respective sides of said chamber having opposed parts to receive between them an impeller and to provide said chamber on each side of said impeller with an inner channel communicating with: said inlet and an outer channel communicating with said inner channel and with said outlet, and an impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a running fit between the opposed parts of said annular members, said impeller having an annular series of openings therethrough communicating with said inner channels, an annular series of pockets adjacent the periphery thereof communicating with the outer channels, and annular members carried 'by the respective sides of said impeller,

extending into said inner channels radially beyond said series of openings and having spaced opposite sides of said impeller to engage the respective sides of the latter between said inner and outer series of pockets and provide inner and outer channels communicating with the respective series of pockets, one of said annular members being axially adjustable, said chamber having an inlet communicating with said inner channels and a peripheral outlet communicating with said outer channels, abutments in said outer channels just beyond the points of connection of said outer channels with said outlet, a part carried by said adjustable annular member and extending across said impeller and between the same and the peripheral wall -of said chamber and cooperating with said abutments toclose the spaces between said impeller and the walls of said outer channels, and means for adjusting said adjustable annular member.

8. In a pump, a casing having sid and pe-- ripheral walls to form within said casing a work chamber having an inlet and an outlet, an impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber and having inner and outer annular series of pockets, annular members arranged in said chamber on opposite sides of said impeller to engage the respective sides of the latter between said inner and outer series of pockets and provide inner and outer channels communicatingwith the respecjive series of pockets, one of said annular members being axially adjustable, said chamber having an inlet communicating with said inner channels, and a peripheral outlet, said outer channels communicating with said outletnear one side of the latter, abutments in said outer channels just beyond the points of connection of said outer channels with said outlet, said adjustable annular member having a part extending through and closing the space between said outer series of pockets in said impeller and the peripheral wall of said chamber, said peripheral wall having a projection extending into the inner part of said outlet and overlying said part of said annular member, said projection and said part having alined openings leading from said outlet to the outer series of pockets in said impeller,

and means for adjusting said annular member.

9. In a pump, a casing having within the same a work chamber comprising an inlet portion and a circumferential channel communicating with said inlet portion, an impeller mounted for rotation in said chamber and having adjacent the periphery thereof a circumferential series of pockets extending into said channel, an inlet leading to said inlet portion of said chamber, an outlet communicating with said channel, means for closing said channel about said impeller pockets at a point adjacent said outlet, a part of said casing having an opening leading from the inher portion of said outlet to said impeller pockets beyond said point of closure, and a discharge passage leading from said channel in advance of said point of closure to said outlet and arranged to discharge liquid across said opening and outwardly through said outlet.

, 10. In a pump, a casing having within the same a ,work chamber comprising an inlet portion and a circumferential channel communicating with said inlet portion, an impeller mounted for rotation in said chamber and having adjacent the periphery thereof a circumferential series of pockets extending into said channel, an inlet leading to said inlet portion of said chamber, an outlet communicating with said channel, means for closing said channel about said impeller pockets at a point adjacent said outlet, said casing having a part extending into the inner end of said outlet in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said impeller and provided with an opening leading to said impeller pockets beyond said point of closure of said channel, and

- a discharge passage leading from said channel and entering the inner end of said outlet in advance of said part'of said casing and at an angle to said outlet to cause liquid to be discharged across said opening'and outwardly with relation thereto.

11. In a pump, a casing provided with a work chamber having inner and outer channels in the side walls thereof and connections between said channels, an impeller mounted for rotation in said chamber and having inner ard outer series of pockets communicating with the respective channels, said chamber having an inlet leading to said inner channels and an outlet, abutments closing said outer channels adjacent said outlet. a discharge passage leading ifrom said outer channels to said outlet in advance of said abutments and arranged to discharge liquid into said channel at an acute angle thereto, and a passage leading from said outlet directly to said outer series of impeller pockets and communicating with said outlet beyond said discharge passage and below the path of the liquid discharged into said outlet.

12. In a pump, a casing provided with a work chamber having inner and outer annular channels in the side walls thereof and connections between said channels, an impellermounted for rotation in said chamber and having inner and outer annular series of pockets communicating with the respective channels, said chamber having an inlet leading to said inner channels and an outlet connectd at one side thereof with said outer channels, abutments closing said outer channels just beyond their points of connection with said outlet, a wall of said chamber having a projection extending across the inner end of said outlet at the other side of the latter and provided with a passage leading from said outlet to said outer series of pockets in said impeller.

JOHN W. GURLEY. 

